ACLU of Kentucky

Dozens of Kentuckians Protest Anti-Gay Discrimination by McDonald’s Employees

Monday, October 20, 2008, 6:24 pm

Representatives of a variety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender groups as well as other civil rights organizations protested in downtown Louisville this afternoon in response to an anti-gay incident at a McDonald’s restaurant. The protestors called for an end to anti-gay discrimination and an official response to the incident by the fast food mega-corporation. They were reacting to an incident in which a McDonald’s employee referred to a group of gay customers as “faggots” and other anti-gay slurs, and then a supervisor said she didn’t see what the “big deal” was and refused to refund the customers’ payment.

“For any business to treat its gay customers this way is beyond the pale,” said Becca O’Neill with UofL’s Lambda Law Caucus, one of the groups that organized the demonstration. Other groups involved in organizing the protest included ACLU of Kentucky, Fairness Campaign, UofL’s commonGround and Office of LGBT Services. “All we want is for all customers, gay or straight, to be treated with decency and respect. Nobody should fork over their hard-earned money for a meal and be treated this way.”

Carrying signs saying “Discrimination Doesn’t Belong in a Happy Meal”, “Homophobia Served Here”, “NOT Lovin’ It”, many protesters said they were shocked, hurt, and angered when they learned about the incident.

“We want to make it clear that this community will not stand for this kind of harassment and discrimination from any business in Louisville,” said Jeff Rodgers, co-coordinator of the Fairness Campaign. “We have a law against anti-gay discrimination in Louisville, but we want people to know that these incidents still happen and that businesses that take part in this kind of illegal discrimination will be held accountable.”

Ryan Marlatt, Teddy Eggers, and three other friends were visiting Louisville for the weekend when they stopped for lunch at a McDonald’s restaurant on East Market Street on July 26, 2008. While they waited for their food to be prepared, an employee behind the counter referred to them as “faggots” to another employee. Marlatt and Eggers asked to speak with a manager, who then refused to refund the group’s purchase. Marlatt said he attempted several times in the following weeks to contact both the general manager of the McDonald’s and the corporate offices, but got no response. On September 16, the American Civil Liberties Union filed an official complaint on behalf of Marlatt and Eggers with the Louisville Human Relations Commission.

Marlatt and Eggers came back to Louisville from Indianapolis to take part in this afternoon’s protest. “We are very moved by all of your support today,” Eggers told the crowd. “When my friends and I were here at this McDonald’s in July, we experienced the worst sort of verbal abuse and hostility. Today we’re seeing a much better side of Louisville – a side that won’t stand for hate and discrimination.”

Louisville city law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in public accommodations such as restaurants. The Lousville Human Relations Commission is currently investigating Marlatt and Eggers’s complaint. Marlatt and Eggers say all they want is an apology, a refund of the $28 they and their friends spent on the McDonald’s meal, and appropriate disciplinary action for the employees involved.

More information on Marlatt and Eggers’ complaint can be found on the ACLU website at: Marlatt & Eggers complaint

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